The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-12-02
THE NEW JAIL BUILDING.
What is Being Done to Remedy the
Defects in it's Construction.

b6l6CIS III lJS
The new Jail is still in the hands Of the
contractor, and it is problem how he is
to get rid of it. When Mr. Mcdonald, the
architect, was in the city last week and
examined the work he submitted
report to the County Commissioners, which,
however, he failed to sign, in
which he set forth what the contractor
should do in order to complete his contract.
The defects pointed out by Mr.. Mcdonald
are receiving attention, and have nearly all
been remedied. The changes will be com
pleted to-day. The contractor expresses his
willingness to comply with all the require
ments in the report except that which calls
upon him TO make the timer give
a bond for his work. This Mr.. Bowe says
he cannot do. The architect also demands
that the heating apparatus should be tested,
which of course can be done as soon as
everything is ready about the building and
the weather is such as to thoroughly test its
heating capacity.
Mr. Mcdonald, in his report, says that the
building is a substantial one, and when what
he recommends to be done has been done the
Jail will be as good jail as there is in the
country. Mr.. Mcdonald has Stalled to recon-
mend that it be received by the county, as re-
quired under the contract, as he is the sole
Judge Of the execution of the work. In the
meanwhile the matter has been further COM
plicated by garnishments being served on the
county for amounts due sub-contractors.
The general opinion is that there should
be some plan devised by which the county
can get possession of the Jail as soon as the
contractor complies with the architects re-
qurements and the contractor receives what
is due him. This is what will probably have
to be done in the end. Mr.. Bowe, it is
stated, by mistake in his figures, took the
contract about $4,000 below what he in
tended and below what the next highest
bidder put in for. That error, though his
own fault, has doubtless been the cause of
some of the work not being of the very best
character, but those who have examined
1t state that it would be a difficult matter,
except, probably, in regard to the brick
arches in the cell house, for any one to say
that it is not as good work as could be re-
quired.
The Jail was built under the supervision
OF the architects, Messrs. Mcdonald Bros,
of Louisville, KY, or their representatives,
and such defects as cannot now be remedied
may have been the result Of laches on their
part. Apparently it was somebody's duty
to see that the work was done satisfactorily
as it progressed, and not wait until the COM
pletion of the building to find fault with
things that cannot now be remedied.
Pursuant to the report of the architect the
sills of the windows have been throated, the
corners inside the building protected with
wooden beads, and all of the suggestions
have been carried out except a few which
time has not permitted to be looked after.
1t is probs BILE that the County Commission
ers will adopt the wisest measures that will
place the jail in their hands as soon as posi-
BILE, and leave the questions of garnishments
and other disputes to be settled between
those involved